Fanfics. Der.

Fanfic. Or more accordingly, Enthusiasts Figments. One devote individual whom has encompassed a great love for another persons work of fiction decides that he would like to take another mans ideas for a spin. Google tells me the solid definition is "Story written about a televison show, book, comic or movie by people un-connected with the original and without any intention of making a profit." Sounds about right to me. Fanfics are often criticized and stereotyped as poorly written absurd messes with far to much promiscuity. Yes yes, I can see this being true for a vast majority of the them but I'm sure theres got to be good stuff out there, right? Is it not true that some of the most highly regarded pieces of literature are in fact, fanfics?

• Paradise Lost- Catholicism fanfic
  
• The Illiad-Greek culture and mythology fanfic
  
• The Divine Comedy-Its like a fanfic, fanfic. Or rather the ultimate fanfic. Its got everybody. Yes, if you look for it characters and ideas presented in the two works already mentioned will be instantly noticeable. Virgil, Homer, Satan, Socrates, these are just a very small amount of the reused characters.
• Ulysses-Illiad and Odyssey fanfic

I could go on and on...


If you want to further carry this argument you can even say that everything is a fanfic. The old saying "everything has been written" is, to some extent true. Everything that is being written and has been written will always be written by a fan of the things that were already written. This fan is more then likely to include his favorite "already written" ideas in his writing.

"I will praise any man that will praise me."
-The Shakes